Network system, CPU resource provider, client apparatus, processing service providing method, and program

ABSTRACT

A network system includes an application service provider (ASP) which is connected to the Internet and executes an application, and a CPU resource provider which is connected to the Internet and provides a processing service to a particular computational part (e.g., computation intensive part) of the application, wherein: when requesting a job from the CPU resource provider, the application service provider (ASP) sends information about estimated computation time of the job to the CPU resource provider via the Internet; and the CPU resource provider assigns the job by correcting this estimated computation time based on the estimated computation time sent from the application service provider (ASP).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a network system and the like whichprovide computation intensive processing services. More particularly, itrelates to a network system and the like which provide services withguaranteed performance.

2. Background Art

Recently, ASPs (Application Service Providers) have grown rapidly thatlease applications such as business software for a designated period byproviding them via the Internet in order to cut the total costs ofbuilding and operating a system drastically, reduce system developmentperiod, and so on. Users who outsource businesses to ASPs can do awaywith the need to purchase hardware or software for special applications,reduce maintenance costs, and even cut the number of full-time staff.

Computation intensive applications offered by ASPs include CAE (ComputerAided Engineering) which consists in employing a computer to aidproduct-development engineering such as strength analysis, thermalanalysis, vibration analysis, etc. using a finite element method orboundary element method. Also, some ASPs handle financial engineeringincluding financial affairs and accounting. Regarding serverconfigurations, there are cases, for example, in which all processing isundertaken by an application server. With such configurations, it willbe difficult to maintain or improve service levels because very heavycomputation processes, if carried out, are likely to affect otherinteractive processes and make parallel computation difficult.

Some Web-based services which process time-consuming jobs such asoptimization use a system which involves processing a submitted job andreturning the results by mail. However, such services, which areprovided free of charge for academic purposes, handle limited problemscales without guarantees for performance. On the other hand, largecomputer centers of public institutions such as universities provideparallel computers for use by the general public and operate them usingresource management software. However, these facilities are intended forfairness and effective use of resources and billing for their use isbased on total CPU time.

Regarding scheduling technologies for computational resources,mainstream techniques involve managing batch job queuing, adjusting somepriorities, and assigning freed nodes to jobs. A background reason forthis is the fact that most of current large-scale computer systems arecomposed of parallel systems. However, there are often secret pathswhich make it possible to receive service preferentially by deceivingalgorithms. For example, there is a technique known as backfill, whichallows a short job to cut in if there is any space temporarily in thenode. This could allow a job, for example, to cut in for ten minutes andactually stay for an hour, as can happen in real life.

Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 7-141305 discloses atechnique for improving the efficiency of processor utilization when aparallel computer is used simultaneously by an unspecified number ofusers.

In addition to existing users of high-performance computing such asscientists who use large computer centers and bio-related largecompanies which install large servers as their core competencies, thereare potential users professionals who use heavy-duty processing such asMonte Carlo simulations or finite element methods for daily operationsin financial, manufacturing, and other industries. However, suchprocessing generally requires a large system, whose installation andmaintenance involve heavy economic and technical burdens. Besides, asperformance is increased to reduce computation time, idle time increasesaccordingly, resulting in reduced efficiency. Furthermore, depending onvendors or applications, inconvenience may occur that platforms islimited.

One solution to this problem is migration to the use of ASPs. On thepart of applications vendors, they can specialize in algorithms, inwhich they have a competitive edge, using a fixed platform. At present,however, service quality is not ensured in terms of wait time andresponse, as described above. Besides, scheduling algorithms could bedeceived, making it impossible to secure “fairness,” which is importantin making business work.

The present invention has been made to solve the above technicalproblems. One of its objects is to implement fair service withguaranteed performance in a system which provides processing servicessuch as computation intensive Web services.

Another object is to improve the efficiency of resource utilization insuch a system based on estimation of computation time while encouragingclients to make accurate and honest estimates by giving incentives.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the above objects, the present invention implements a fairlicensing and billing scheme with emphasis placed on overall performanceby asking clients to estimate computation time and making a providermanage client-specific profiles, analyze estimation accuracy, and usethe results of analysis for service management, in a system whichconsists mainly of servers suitable for computation (parallelcomputation) and provides processing services such as computationintensive Web services to applications. In other words, by using clientprofiles, the present invention improves the accuracy of input data(=estimation of execution time) a problem common to many of existingbatch scheduling systems. Also, it achieves efficient use of computerresources by using accuracy information for scheduling.

Thus, a network system to which the present invention is appliedcomprises a client such as an ASP (Application Service Provider) that isconnected to a network and executes an application, and a CPU resourceprovider that is connected to the network and provides a processingservice preferably to a particular computational part (e.g., computationintensive part) in the application, wherein: when requesting a job fromthe CPU resource provider, the client sends information about estimatedcomputation time of the job to the CPU resource provider via thenetwork; and the CPU resource provider modifies the estimatedcomputation time and assigns the job based on the estimated computationtime sent from the client.

Also, a CPU resource provider to which the present invention is appliedcomprises a profile storage unit which stores a profile of a client; areceiving unit which receives estimated computation time of a given jobalong with a job request made by the client; a correction unit whichcorrects the estimated computation time received by the receiving unit,based on the profile stored in the profile storage unit; and a jobassigning unit which assigns jobs by performing resource schedulingbased on the estimated computation time corrected by the correctionunit.

Viewed from another angle, a CPU resource provider to which the presentinvention is applied comprises an execution time estimating unit whichestimates the execution time of a job requested by a client; a nodecount determining unit which determines the number of nodes currentlyavailable for assignment; a first estimated end time determining unitwhich determines a first estimated end time of the job assuming that thejob is executed immediately using the estimated execution time and thenumber of nodes determined by the first estimated end time determiningunit; a second estimated end time determining unit which determines asecond estimated end time of the job assuming that the job is executedupon completion of a particular job currently under execution; and anassigning unit which assigns the job by securing required nodes based onthe first estimated end time and second estimated end time determined.

In this case, preferably the first estimated end time determining unitand the second estimated end time determining unit determine the firstestimated end time and the second estimated end time using a time scale(e.g., L value) which indicates the time required for the job to endwith a predetermined probability of, for example, 90% and the assigningunit judges, by comparing values of the common time scale, whether towait for a job currently under execution to end, because this will makeit possible to incorporate differences in estimation accuracy amongclients into scheduling.

Also, the present invention can be viewed as a client apparatus whichexecutes an application and receives a service from a CPU resourceprovider connected to a network in relation to the application. Theclient apparatus comprises a job request transmission unit whichtransmits a job request to the CPU resource provider; a computation timeestimating unit which estimates computation time based on the magnitudeof the job in the job request transmitted; and an estimated computationtime transmission unit which transmits the estimated computation time tothe CPU resource provider along with the job request transmitted by thejob request transmission unit. The job request transmission unit heremay be configured to transmit data needed to execute the job for whichthe job request is transmitted, the number of executing nodes,application program code depending on circumstances, and parallelizedperformance if parallel execution is possible.

Also, the present invention can be viewed as a processing serviceproviding method for providing a processing service to an application,based on a request from a client that executes the application. Also, itcan be viewed as programs which cause a processor which is a clientcomputer or a CPU resource provider which is a service-providingcomputer to implement designated functions. These programs may besupplied in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM. Also, they may besupplied to computers by a program-transmission device via a network.Such a program-transmission device needs only to comprise a memory forstoring the programs and program-transmission means for supplying theprograms via a network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a networksystem to which this embodiment is applied;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a CPU resource provider;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of parallelized performance foran application;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process flow of scheduling procedures;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a request arrival time process in Step 103of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing trends in estimations made by a client;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a job end process in Step 105 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a queue reevaluation process in Step 107of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a job assignment process in Step 108 ofFIG. 4;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of a job assignmentprocess;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of two-node job assignment; and

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of an application serviceprovider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a networksystem to which this embodiment is applied. A user 10 who is an end userof an application and an application service provider (ASP) 20 that is aclient are connected to each other via the Internet 9 which is anetwork. Also, the application service provider 20 is connected with aCPU resource provider 30 which is a computation intensive Web server viathe Internet 9.

The user 10 is a general application user. The CPU resource provider 30is a provider of a processing service which specializes in a computationintensive part while the application service provider (ASP) 20 can bedefined as a client that is a user of this processing service.

According to this embodiment, the CPU resource provider 30 obligates theapplication service provider (ASP) 20 that is a client to reportestimated computation time when making a request. Also, it managesclient profiles and maintains history of reported times, actual waittimes, actual execution times, etc. Furthermore, based on the profiles,it:

(a) analyzes the accuracy of computation time estimation and trends(bias) in reporting and uses the results for resource scheduling;

(b) gives incentives such as lowering a price if an estimate is accuratefor actions (accurate estimations or reservations by clients) that willhelp improve scheduling performance; and

(c) maintains the service level during contract time by adjustingpriorities in assignment and adjusting parallelism.

In this way, this embodiment further improves efficiency by enablingaccurate estimation and encouraging clients to make accurate and honestestimates.

First, at the contracting stage, a licensing contract for a particularapplication is concluded between the user 10 and application serviceprovider 20. Also, a computer resource licensing contract is concludedbetween the application service provider 20 and CPU resource provider30. Then, the application service provider 20 registers programs to beused and parallelization characteristics with the CPU resource provider30.

During operation, the application agreed upon under the licensingcontract between the user 10 and application service provider 20 isused. The application service provider 20 presents a computation requestincluding computation of estimated time to the CPU resource provider 30and the CPU resource provider 30 presents computational results andestimation accuracy information to the application service provider 20.

Alternatively, it is possible for the user 10 to bypass the applicationservice provider 20 and use the CPU resource provider 30 directly. Inthat case, an application installed in a client machine which is theuser 10 is set to entrust only computation intensive analyses to the CPUresource provider 30 via the Internet 9. In such cases, since it isgenerally difficult for the user 10 that is a client to estimatecomputation time, a scale of several points which represents problemscale is used instead. Since history is accumulated and a function ofcomputation time can be specified using the scale, computation time isestimated by the CPU resource provider 30. However, it is also possibleto provide a program with a capability to estimate computation time tothe user 10 and make the user 10 that is a client to estimatecomputation time.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the CPU resource provider30. The CPU resource provider 30 according to this embodiment acts as acomputation intensive Web server. It comprises a server group consistingof a plurality of computation servers 36 and is connected with them viaa bus 35. Also, on a front end processor connected to the bus 35, theCPU resource provider 30 is equipped with a scheduler 31, an OS whichmanages jobs for the plurality of computation servers 36. It alsocomprises a storage unit 32 for storing profiles and the like of theapplication service provider 20 that is a client, a communicationssection 33 for communicating with the application service provider 20,and an account manager 34 for account computation.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of that part of theapplication service provider 20 which is used in relation to the CPUresource provider 30. The application service provider 20 here comprisesa storage section 25 for storing data about applications used inrelation to the user 10, the number of executing nodes, parallelizedperformance, program code, etc. as well as a computation time estimatingsection 21 for estimating computation time based on problem scale whenrequesting a job from the CPU resource provider 30. Also, it comprises ajob request transmission section 22 for transmitting the data necessaryfor execution and the number of executing nodes stored in the storagesection 25 to the CPU resource provider 30, an estimated computationtime transmission section 23 for transmitting the computation timeestimated by the computation time estimating section 21 to the CPUresource provider 30. Furthermore, it comprises a results receivingsection 24 for receiving the actual execution time required for a jobfrom the CPU resource provider 30 together with computational resultsproduced by the execution of the job. The actual execution time receivedby the results receiving section 24 is input in the computation timeestimating section 21 and used to improve the accuracy of estimation forthe next job.

Next, description will be given about how a service level is set andinformation about estimated time is managed by the scheduler 31 of theCPU resource provider 30. This embodiment includes examples whichconcern a method for setting a service level with respect to a client,management of estimation error information, and a scheduling algorithmbased on them. There can be a flood of requests for which sufficientresources are not available, and thus it is generally impossible toalways assure performance. However, this situation is dealt with byassuring a period average in terms of an index called a “deemed numberof nodes” and changing a set point dynamically based on actual results.Also, by using a common scale known as an L value (which indicates thetime required for a job to end with a high probability e.g., 90%),differences in estimation accuracy among clients are incorporated intoscheduling.

FIG. 3 shows an example of parallelized performance for an application.Such parallelized performance has been provided as prior information tothe CPU resource provider 30 by a client of the application serviceprovider 20. The figure, in which the horizontal axis represents thenumber of nodes and the vertical axis represents performance, showsresults of a Monte Carlo simulation and portfolio optimization.

Preparation will be described first. The parallelized performanceillustrated in FIG. 3 is provided as prior information by the client.This function is given, for example, by:f _(c)(n){f _(c)(1)=1.0}  [Equation 1]

It is assumed here that a job which will take a single node ten hours isexecuted in parallel by a plurality of nodes after waiting some time forassignment and is completed in 3 hours after submission. This isexpressed as follows:n=f _(c) ⁻¹(10/3)  [Equation 2]

The number of nodes required if nodes are assigned immediately uponsubmission is referred to as a “deemed number of nodes.”

During the term of a contract, a service level for client c that is oneof the application service providers 20 is set as follows:Average deemed number of nodes= n _(c) ^(avg), Total CPU time=t_(c)^(total)  [Equation 3]

The “average deemed number of nodes” corresponds to the quality ofservice while the “total CPU time” corresponds to the amount of service.Deviations from these set points are reflected in charges.

Next, suppose the number of nodes and CPU time for each job executed atthe request of client c during the term of a contract (e.g., in thismonth) is given by:n _(c)(i),t_(c)(i)  [Equation 4]

Suppose also that future CPU usage estimated in some way or other isgiven by: $\begin{matrix}{{t_{c}^{rest}\quad{for}\quad{example}},\left( {t_{c}^{rest} = {t_{c}^{total} - {\sum\limits_{i}{t_{c}(i)}}}} \right)} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\quad 5} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Then, a “target deemed number of nodes” for the client c is given by:$\begin{matrix}{{\overset{\_}{n}}_{c}^{target} = \frac{{\left( {{\sum\limits_{i}{t_{c}(i)}} + t_{c}^{rest}} \right){\overset{\_}{n}}_{c}^{avg}} - {\sum\limits_{i}{{t_{c}(i)}{{\overset{\_}{n}}_{c}(i)}}}}{t_{c}^{rest}}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\quad 6} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Its value is updated each time a job is finished.

Here, estimated execution time allowing for error is considered to havea probability distribution X. With respect to parameter P, an E value ofX and an L value of X are given, respectively, by:E _(p)(x)={x|Prob(x>X)=p}L _(p)(x)={x|Prob(x<X)=p}  [Equation 7]

For example, when P=0.1, X will end earlier than the L value with aprobability of 90% and will take a longer time than the E value with aprobability of 90%.

Furthermore, if it is assumed that X follows an independent normaldistribution, the following formula can be used when handling a sum ofdistributions (i.e., total time required to execute a plurality of jobsin sequence).X=N(μ_(x),σ_(x) ²)Y=N(μ_(y),σ_(y) ²)aX+bY=N(aμ _(x) +bμ _(y) ,a ²σ_(x) ² +b ²σ_(x) ²)  [Equation 8]

This can simplify computations in subsequent procedures.

Next, execution time is estimated assuming a large-scale parallelcomputation environment with a uniform capacity as is the case with thecomputation server 36 group shown in FIG. 2 and assuming that the numberof nodes assigned to each job is variable. However, each clientestimates computation time assuming that the jobs are executed seriallyon one node. If it is necessary to execute jobs on a fixed number ofnodes n^(fixed), the following equation can be used. $\begin{matrix}\left. {f_{c}(n)}\Leftarrow\left\{ \begin{matrix}{ɛ{\operatorname{<<}1}} & {n < n^{fixed}} \\{f_{c}\left( n^{fixed} \right)} & {n \geq n^{fixed}}\end{matrix} \right. \right. & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\quad 9} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Next, scheduling procedures performed by the scheduler 31 will bedescribed. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process flow of schedulingprocedures. First, the scheduler 31 waits for a specific event to occur(Step 101). When a request arrives (Step 102), the scheduler 31 performsa request arrival time process (Step 103) and goes to a queuereevaluation process in Step 107. If no request arrival event occurs,the scheduler 31 judges whether a job is finished (Step 104). If a jobend event occurs, the scheduler 31 performs a job end process (Step 105)and goes to the queue reevaluation process in Step 107. If no job endevent occurs in Step 104 the scheduler 31 judges whether a preset timehas elapsed (Step 106). If the preset time has not elapsed, thescheduler 31 waits for an event to occur in Step 101. If the preset timehas elapsed, the scheduler 31 performs the queue reevaluation process(Step 107) and goes to a job assignment process in Step 108. Afterperforming the job assignment process (Step 108), the scheduler 31returns to Step 101 and waits there until a next event occurs.

Now, the request arrival time process will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the request arrival time process in Step103 of FIG. 4. Upon arrival of a computation request (Step 201), thescheduler 31 estimates execution time (Step 202) based on trends inestimations made by the requesting client (application service provider20). The estimated execution time is added to the queue (Step 203). Whenthe request arrives, the time when the requested job i arrives fromclient c(i) is denoted by T_(i) ^(arrival). Estimated execution timet_(i) reported by the client is corrected based on error analysis ofpast history and distribution X_(i) of estimated execution times isdetermined assuming that E[X_(i)]=m_(i).

FIG. 6 shows trends in estimations made by a client. In the figure, thehorizontal axis represents estimated time while the vertical axisrepresents actual execution time. The errors are analyzed anddistribution of estimated times is determined, and then the results areused for scheduling. Parallelism is omitted for the sake of simplicity.As shown in FIG. 6, the actual execution time deviates from theestimated time reported by the application service provider 20 that is aclient, by a certain amount as indicated by a thick arrow. Thus, a biaswhich exists as trends in estimations made by the client is determinedand corrected when a request arrives: this is a characteristic featureof this embodiment.

It can be seen from past history that the client shown in the example ofFIG. 6 has a tendency toward underestimation. Also, error variance canbe quantified. For example, if it is estimated from a reportedcomputation time of 80 minutes that the expected value and standarddeviation are 90 minutes and 30 minutes, respectively, risk of error canbe reduced by using the following value as estimated execution time inscheduling:90=30×0.4=102 minutes

It is also possible to use error information more elaborately.

Analytical applications often run a number of iterations by changingparameters bit by bit. Suppose there are ten successive requests eachscheduled to take 30 minutes. If the first two jobs actually take 40minutes each, it is highly likely that the remaining eight jobs willalso take 40 minutes each. In such cases, estimates can be corrected byperforming time series analysis (in this case, +10, +10>?, ?, . . . ) onthe bias in the reported values.

Next, the job end process will be described.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the job end process in Step 105 of FIG. 4.When a job end event occurs (Step 301), the scheduler 31 updates thehistory, error information, and other estimation accuracy information ofclient c(i) (Step 302) based on the actual execution time of job i. Ifclient c(i) has requested another job as well, the estimationinformation of that job is also updated (Step 303). Also, the scheduler31 updates the target deemed number of nodes for client c(i) given bythe following equation and reevaluates the queue based on it (Step 304).n _(c(i)) ^(target)  [Equation 10]

Next, queue management will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the queue reevaluation process in Step 107of FIG. 4. First, the scheduler 31 updates n_(i) ^(required) of each jobin the queue (Step 401). Jobs not yet assigned to computers are sortedand rearranged in descending order of n_(i) ^(required) given by thefollowing equation, where T^(current) denotes the present time (Step402). $\begin{matrix}{{\overset{\_}{n}}_{i}^{required} = {f_{c{(i)}}^{- 1}\left( {\frac{{f_{c{(i)}}\left( {\overset{\_}{n}}_{c{(i)}}^{target} \right)}\mu_{i}}{{{f_{c{(i)}}\left( {\overset{\_}{n}}_{c{(i)}}^{target} \right)}\mu_{i}} - \left( {T^{current} - T_{i}^{arrival}} \right)} \times {f_{c{(i)}}\left( {\overset{\_}{n}}_{c{(i)}}^{target} \right)}} \right)}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\quad 11} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

Although jobs are often sorted in order of arrival in existing batchsystems, the number of nodes n_(i) ^(required) needed to achieve the“deemed number of nodes” is used here on the assumption that jobs areassigned immediately. Since this value changes with time, it must beupdated periodically. After the reevaluation process, the next jobassignment process is started, with the ID of the k-th job after sortingset to q(k).

Next, job assignment will be described.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the job assignment process in Step 108 ofFIG. 4. In the job assignment process, the number of nodes currentlyavailable for assignment is denoted by N^(avail), the number of nodestaken up by the job which has the k-th smallest L value out of the jobscurrently under execution is denoted by N_(k) ^(avail), and the ID ofthat job is denoted by a(k). First, the scheduler 31 checks the numberof nodes currently available for assignment, i.e., the number of freenodes N^(avail) (Step 501). Then, it checks for free nodes (Step 502).If there is no free node, i.e., N^(avail)=0, the job assignment processis finished and the scheduler 31 waits for a running job to end.

If free nodes are available, the scheduler 31 judges whether there areenough nodes for the first job (Step 503). If there are enough nodes,i.e., if the following equation is satisfied,N ^(avail) ≧|n _(q(1)) ^(required)|  [Equation 12]

the scheduler 31 assigns job q(1) to:|n _(q(1)) ^(required)|nodes  13

so that the number of remaining nodes after assignment will be (Step504):N ^(avail) =N ^(avail) −|n _(q(1)) ^(required)|  [Equation 14]

and the scheduler 31 returns to Step 501.

The L value which results when job q(1) is executed immediately onN^(avail) nodes is denoted by L₀ and the L value which results when jobq(1) is executed on N^(avail)+N₁ ^(avail) nodes after job a(1) isfinished is denoted by L₁. Also, the L value which results when job q(1)is executed on the following number of nodes after job a(k) is finishedis denoted by L_(k) $\begin{matrix}{N^{avail} + {\sum\limits_{j}^{k}{N_{j}^{avail}{nodes}}}} & \left\lbrack {{Equation}\quad 15} \right\rbrack\end{matrix}$

If enough nodes are not available for the first job in Step 503, i.e.,if the equation shown below holds, the scheduler 31 judges whether thereis k which satisfies L₀>L_(k)(Step 505).N ^(avail) <|n _(q(1)) ^(required)|  [Equation 16]

If k which satisfies L₀>L_(k) exists, it is advisable to assign job q(k)after job a(k) is finished. Thus, the scheduler 31 checks whether thereis a job which is highly likely to end earlier than job k (Step 506). Ifthere is, the scheduler 31 assigns currently available nodes to that job(Step 507) and finishes the process. That is, beginning with the top ofthe queue, the scheduler 31 checks for a job which will give an L valuesmaller than the L value of job a(k) executed on N^(avail) nodes, and ifthere is such a job, the scheduler 31 assigns the N^(avail) nodes tothat job and finishes the process. If there is no appropriate job inStep 506, the scheduler 31 waits until any of the assigned job isfinished.

If it is found in Step 505 that any k satisfies L₀

L_(k), the first job q(1) is assigned to currently available N^(avail)nodes (Step 508) and the process is finished.

FIGS. 10A and 10B show an example of the job assignment processdescribed above. FIG. 10A shows the present state before the assignmentprocess. FIG. 10B shows an example of the assignment process. As shownin FIG. 10A, four nodes are currently available for use. There are afirst job q(1) and second job q(2) in a queue, and a method forassigning the first job q(1) will be described here. Specifically, jobq(1) at the top of the queue needs eight nodes in terms of the targetdeemed number and is considered to take approximately 50 minutes (the Lvalue is 60), but only four free nodes are available. In FIG. 10A, thejobs currently under execution are considered in descending order oflikelihood to be completed (beginning with the job with the smallest Lvalue). Of the jobs currently under execution, only job a(1) with thesmallest L value and job a(2) with the second smallest L value areshown, and the other jobs are omitted. The number of nodes N₁ ^(avail)taken up by job a(1) is two and the number of nodes N₂ ^(avail) taken upby job a(2) is six.

In FIG. 10A, the average values (indicated by solid lines) and L valuesare shown for both jobs a(1) and a(2). In executing the first job q(1)in the queue, it is determined here whether to execute it right now byassigning the currently available four nodes, to execute it using six(4+2) nodes after finishing job a(1), or to execute it using twelve(4+2+6) nodes after finishing job a(2).

It is assumed that the L value will be 120 if the first job q(1) in thequeue is executed immediately using four nodes, that the L value will be110 if job q(1) is executed using six nodes after job a(1) is finished,and that the L value will be 70 if job q(1) is executed using twelvenodes after job a(2) is finished. Since the L value is the smallest ifjob q(1) is executed after job a(2) is finished, job q(1) is made towait until that time. If there is a job which, if executed immediatelyusing four nodes, will require an L value small than 30, i.e., the Lvalue of job a(2), it is executed out of turn by jumping the queue.However, there is no such job here and thus no job is executed out ofturn.

As shown in FIG. 10B, it is assumed that when job a(2) is finished andtwelve nodes become available, the deemed number of nodes has increasedto 16 as a result of the wait although the top job q(1) in the queueremains as it was before. Then, in this example, deciding that nofurther improvement in the L value can be expected, this job q(1) isassigned using twelve nodes, as shown in FIG. 10B. In this way, thisembodiment makes it possible to improve the efficiency of resourceutilization based on accurate estimation of computation time.

Next, description will be given about an implementation example of asystem to which this embodiment is applied. In this example, it isassumed that a financial applications vendor P has switched to an ASPbusiness and become an application service provider 20 such as the oneshown in FIG. 1. Application service providers use their own servergroups for provision of information such as the latest market prices andtransaction processing including online transactions. However, MonteCarlo simulations for derivatives pricing and portfolio optimization,which can take up a multiple CPUs for several minutes to several hours,may delay response in other interactive services. On the other hand,increased execution speed owing to large-scale parallelism will lead toimproved customer satisfaction. Therefore, the CPU resource provider 30will be used. The vendor P (the application service provider 20)registers program code necessary for execution of applications in asystem of the CPU resource provider 30. If parallel execution ispossible, the vendor P also informs the CPU resource provider 30 ofparallelized performance as shown in FIG. 3.

If a user 10 of an application service offered by the vendor P (theapplication service provider 20) specifies a Monte Carlo method, thevendor P (the application service provider 20) sends data necessary forexecution, the number of executing nodes, and computation time estimatedbased on problem scale to the CPU resource provider 30. The CPU resourceprovider 30 adds this request to a queue, executes it as soon asresources become available, and sends the results to the vendor P (theapplication service provider 20).

In addition to the vendor P, the CPU resource provider 30 providescomputational services to a plurality of other clients applicationservice providers 20 including, for example, a gene analysisapplications vendor Q and a fluid analysis applications vendor Rmaintaining execution environments for respective applications.

When running a business of providing Web services which handle onlycomputation intensive parts of applications, as is the case with the CPUresource provider 30 of this example, it is preferable to ensure aservice level, taking into consideration not only total CPU time, butalso turnaround time from the submission of a client's request to theend of computation. Assuming that an hour's execution on four nodesafter an hour's wait is equivalent to occupancy of two nodes, thisembodiment ensures the following service level: computation timeequivalent to a total of one node, four nodes on average, andperformance equivalent to two nodes or better with a probability of 90%.

Such improvement of service levels essentially requires efficientresource scheduling, which in turn requires accurate estimation ofexecution time.

FIG. 11 shows an example of two-node job assignment. In this example,after Job A on Node 1 is finished, Job C which has the highest priorityin the queue cannot be executed until Node 2 becomes available becauseit requires 2 nodes. Conventionally, Job D is run on Node 1 first, asindicated by the broken line, to improve overall efficiency. However,this works only if Job D is finished reliably as scheduled. If Job Cgoes on and on after Job B is finished, service level for the client ofJob C will be lowered and Node 2 will be left idle, resulting indecreased system efficiency. Also, as described earlier, any erroneousreport intended to deceive algorithms may impair the fairness of theentire system and results in loss of trust.

Generally, in resource scheduling, the following relationship holds interms of resource utilization efficiency:

(a) online algorithm based on estimated computation time

-   -   <(b) online algorithm based on accurate computation time        -   <(c) online algorithm based on accurate computation time            (optimal solution).

The (a) online algorithm based on estimated computation time is analgorithm which performs processing based only on information so far.The (c) online algorithm based on accurate computation time (optimalsolution) is an algorithm which performs processing based on allinformation including future information. In other words, it can be seenthat regardless of concrete implementation methods of algorithms, theefficiency of resource utilization can be improved by increasing theestimation accuracy of execution time and using longer-term futureinformation.

The CPU resource provider 30 according to this embodiment obligates theapplication service provider 20 that is a client to report (send)estimated computation time (or an index of problem scale) when making arequest, manages client profiles, and maintains history of reportedtimes, actual wait times, actual execution times, etc. Also, based onthe profiles, it analyzes the accuracy of computation time estimationand trends (bias) in reporting and uses the results for resourcescheduling. It gives incentives for actions (accurate estimations orreservations by clients) that will help improve scheduling performance.Furthermore, it maintains the service level during contract time byadjusting priorities in assignment and adjusting parallelization basedon the past history. Incidentally, however much scheduling performancemay be improved, it is not possible to maintain service levels for allclients when loads are concentrated. Therefore, in case of any delay inprocessing, this embodiment maintains service levels and customersatisfaction, for example, by assigning nodes preferentially in the nexttime or assigning many nodes for speedy processing.

By means of the above configuration, this embodiment can implement fairservice with guaranteed performance, improve the efficiency of resourceutilization based on accurate estimation of computation time, andencourage clients to make accurate and honest estimates by givingincentives. Since jobs are not interactive, networks are less burdened;and thus are less region-dependent. This makes it possible to distributeloads using time differences, adding to merits of scale. Furthermore,new users of large computers can be attracted, resulting in an expandedmarket.

Besides, Web servers, for which the principal purpose of performanceimprovement is parallelization which enables heavy transactionprocessing, differ greatly in both hardware and software configurationsfrom CPU servers which require a parallel computation environment,high-speed switches, etc. Providers can specialize in equipmentconfiguration suitable for them by separating Web servers and CPUservers. Also, migration to a service business typically allowsapplication service providers 20 to secure stable cash flow.Furthermore, the burden of user support such as version updates can bealleviated.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

As described above, the present invention makes it possible to implementfair service with guaranteed performance in a system which providesprocessing services such as computation intensive processing services.

1. A network system comprising a client that is connected to a networkand executes an application, and a CPU resource provider that isconnected to the network and provides a processing service to aparticular calculation of the application, wherein: when requesting ajob from the CPU resource provider, said client sends information aboutestimated computation time of the job to the CPU resource provider viasaid network; and said CPU resource provider assigns said job based onsaid estimated computation time sent from said client.
 2. The networksystem according to claim 1, wherein said client is an applicationservice provider that provides the application based on a licensingcontract with a user terminal connected to the network.
 3. The networksystem according to claim 1, wherein said CPU resource provider retainsa profile containing error information obtained from differences betweenestimated computation times provided by said client in the past andactual job execution times and assigns said job by correcting saidestimated computation time based on said profile.
 4. The network systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said CPU resource provider informs saidclient about a schedule of said job requested by said client.
 5. A CPUresource provider that provides a processing service to an applicationexecuted by a client connected to a network, comprising: a profilestorage unit which stores a profile of said client; an estimatedcomputation time receiving unit which receives estimated computationtime of a given job along with a job request made by said client; and acorrection unit which corrects said estimated computation time receivedby said estimated computation time receiving unit, based on said profilestored in said profile storage unit.
 6. The CPU resource provideraccording to claim 5, further comprising a job assigning unit whichassigns jobs by performing resource scheduling based on said estimatedcomputation time corrected by said correction unit.
 7. The CPU resourceprovider according to claim 5, wherein said profile storage unit stores,as said profile, estimation accuracy information as to the accuracy ofcomputation time estimated by said client and updates the estimationaccuracy information based on the actual execution time of said job. 8.A CPU resource provider that provides a processing service to that partof an application executed by a client that requires advancedcomputation, comprising: an execution time estimating unit whichestimates execution time of a job requested by said client; a node countdetermining unit which determines the number of nodes currentlyavailable for assignment; a first estimated end time determining unitwhich determines a first estimated end time of said job assuming thatsaid job is executed immediately using said estimated execution time andthe number of nodes determined by said first estimated end timedetermining unit; a second estimated end time determining unit whichdetermines a second estimated end time of said job assuming that saidjob is executed upon completion of a particular job currently underexecution; and assigning unit which assigns said job by securingrequired nodes based on said first estimated end time and secondestimated end time determined.
 9. The CPU resource provider according toclaim 8, wherein said execution time estimating unit estimates theexecution time of said job based on estimated computation time sent fromsaid client.
 10. The CPU resource provider according to claim 8,wherein: said first estimated end time determining unit and said secondestimated end time determining unit determine said first estimated endtime and said second estimated end time using a time scale whichindicates the time required for the job to end with a predeterminedprobability; and said assigning unit judges whether to wait for a jobcurrently under execution to end, by comparing values of said timescale.
 11. A client apparatus which executes an application and receivesa service from a CPU resource provider connected to a network inrelation to that part of the application which requires advancedcomputation, comprising: a job request transmission unit which transmitsa job request to said CPU resource provider; a computation timeestimating unit which estimates computation time based on problem scaleof the job in said job request transmitted by said job requesttransmission unit; and an estimated computation time transmission unitwhich transmits the computation time estimated by said computation timeestimating unit to said CPU resource provider.
 12. The client apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein said job request transmission unittransmits data to execute the job for which said job request istransmitted as well as the number of executing nodes.
 13. A processingservice providing method for providing a processing service to anapplication, based on a request from a client that executes theapplication, comprising the steps of: receiving estimated computationtime of a requested job; estimating execution time of the job based onsaid estimated computation time received; and assigning resources tosaid job based on said estimated execution time.
 14. The processingservice providing method according to claim 13, wherein said executiontime is estimated with reference to a client profile which containstrends in computation times estimated by the job-requesting client. 15.A processing service providing method for providing a processing serviceto an application, based on a request from a client that executes theapplication, comprising the steps of: estimating execution time of arequested job; and assigning resources to the job by estimating job endtime on the assumption that said job is assigned to currently availablenodes in a CPU and job end time on the assumption that said job isassigned to available nodes in the CPU upon completion of a particularjob currently under execution, based on said estimated execution time.16. The processing service providing method according to claim 15,wherein said execution time of said job is estimated with reference toestimated computation time received with the request from said client.17. A program for making a computer, serving as a client apparatus thatexecutes an application and receives a service from a CPU resourceprovider connected to a network in relation to that application,implement a process comprising: a job request transmission step fortransmitting a job request to said CPU resource provider; a computationtime estimating step for estimating computation time based on problemscale of the job in said job request transmitted by said job requesttransmission unit; and an estimated computation time transmission stepfor transmitting the computation time estimated by said computation timeestimating unit to said CPU resource provider with the transmission ofsaid job request by said job request transmission function.
 18. Aprogram for making a CPU resource provider, which provides a processingservice to an application executed by a client connected to a network,implement a process comprising the steps of: receiving estimatedcomputation time of a job requested by said client; estimating executiontime of the job based on said estimated computation time received; andassigning resources to said job based on said estimated execution time.19. A program for making a CPU resource provider, which provides aprocessing service to an application executed by a client connected to anetwork, implement a process comprising the steps of: estimatingexecution time of a job requested by the client; and assigning resourcesto the job by estimating job end time on the assumption that said job isassigned to currently available nodes in a CPU and job end time on theassumption that said job is assigned to available nodes in the CPU uponcompletion of a particular job currently under execution, based on saidestimated execution time.
 20. Computer program product comprising codeof the program according to claim 17 stored on a computer-readablemedium.
 21. Computer program product comprising code of the programaccording to claim 18 stored on a computer-readable medium.
 22. Computerprogram product comprising code of the program according to claim 19stored on a computer-readable medium.